USA > Vermont > Orange County > Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888 > Part 63
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Spaulding Locke, son of John B. and Caroline (Taplin) Locke, went into the general merchandise business with William S. Standlick, on Pike hill, in the town of Corinth, in which business he remained for fifteen years. In 1886 he entered into partnership with Angelo Beede, in the lumber and bobbin business, under the firm name of Beede & Locke, which business he still con- tinues. June 17, 1879, Mr. Locke married Eliza Ann Standlick, who has borne him two children, Ernest S. and Ellen E.
William Standlick, son of James and Elizabeth (Blight) Standlick, was born in Cornwall, Eng., April 28, 1833. November 28, 1855, he married Elizabeth Treloar, also of Cornwall, who died June 8, 1880. Mr. Standlick, with his wife, removed to this country in 1856. The first eight years were spent in Canada, when he removed to Vershire and worked in the Ely mines one year. In 1865 he went to Corinth and opened a general store at what is known as Pike hill. In 1873 Spaulding Locke was admitted as partner, and the busi- ness has been continued by the firm to the present time. Mr. Standlick removed to this town in 1886, but he still continues the business in Corinth. He always received the confidence of his townsmen, and was treasurer of the
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TOWN OF TOPSHAM.
school district where he lived for twelve years. He has had two children, Eliza A. (Mrs. Spaulding Locke), of this town, and Loisa, who died August 1, 1868.
Hon. Jonathan Jenness, or " Uncle Jack," as he was familiarly known, came to this town about 1805, from Deerfield, N. H., bringing with him a wife and one child. He had a family of eight children, all of whom are dead except Sally (Mrs. Burton), who resides in this town. He built the first saw- mill in the west part of the town, and was a persevering, industrious man, always ready to help in every good cause. He held nearly all the offices in the gift of his townsmen, and was representative for seventeen years in suc- cession. He was also state senator for a time.
Jacob Taplin, son of Mansfield and Elizabeth (Roe) Taplin, both of Cor- inth, was born in that town February 13, 1813. He married Nancy Cilley, of Topsham, January 2, 1840, and reared a family of five children, of whom George E., Charles H. and Amanda E. (Mrs George White) reside in this town, and Ella A. (Mrs. John H. Metcalf). in Corinth. George E. married Jennie Fulton. Charles H. married Sophia M. McLam, October 26, 1881, and has two children-Linwood J. and Bert E. Jacob Taplin was lieutenant of an artillery company in the old town militia days.
William Cragy, of this town, son of James and Elizabeth (Hall) Cragy, was born in Standish, C. E., July 14, 1820. His father, a Scotchman, and his mother, of English descent, were married before they came to this coun- try. They had a family of eleven children, eight of whom are living, viz .: Clarissa (Mrs. Thomas Murray), in Barre, C. E .; Thomas, in Wilmot, N. H .; Dorothy, in Nashua, N. H. ; Jane (Mrs. Stephen Roberts), in Manchester, N. H .; Louisa (Mrs. James Mannel), in Lowell, Mass .; Henry in North Strafford, N. H .; James in California ; and William in this town. William has been twice married, first to Sally Carter, in 1853, who bore him four children -- William, Jr., of Barre, Vt .; Elizabeth (Mrs. George Barrub), of Wash- ington ; Augusta (Mrs. S. Day), of Corinth, and Benjamin, of Manchester, N. H. His second wife was Martha Baldwin, by whom he has had one child, Clara (Mrs. Benoni Boyce), of this town. Mr. Cragy served in the 15th Vt. Regt., in the late war, and was in the battle of Gettysburg.
James Burns, son of John and Rhoda (Hunt) Burns, was born in Grafton, Mass., in 1825, and removed to this town in 1846. He married Rachel Hil- yard, who bore him four children, viz .: Abigail (Mrs. Alexander Smith), of this town ; Helen F. (Mrs. Eben Weed), of Haverhill, N. H. ; Clarissa (Mrs. Allen Hood), of Roxbury, Mass .; and James C., of this town. The latter has been twice married, first to Gertie A. Huckins, and second to Katie Page. He is proprietor of a saw-mill in East Corinth.
The Reformed Presbyterian church, located in the village of East Top- sham, was organized about 1821 by Drs. McLeod and Wilson, and William Sloan was installed as its first pastor. The male members of this church do not exercise the political rights of citizens by voting or holding office under
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TOWN OF TUNBRIDGE.
the United States government, believing the character of its constitution infidel and atheistic in not acknowledging "God as the author of govern- ment, Christ as the King of Kings, and the Bible as the supreme law for nations." They believe in using the inspired Psalmody given in the Bible in the worship of God, and all other compositions or hymns are rejected in their public worship. The first house of worship, a wooden structure, was erected about 1830, and was replaced by the present building, also of wood, in 1861, at a cost of $2,000. It will comfortably seat 300 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $2,500. The society now has thirty members, under the pastoral charge of Rev. J. C. K. Farris. The Sunday-school has a membership of twenty-five.
The Freewill Baptist church, located at West Topsham, was organized about 1816, with Rev. Nathaniel Bowles as its first pastor. As the early records of the church have been lost, or destroyed, it will be impossible to give many interesting facts concerning the organization of the society. The first house of worship, a wooden structure, was erected in 1828, as a union house, and is still occupied by the society. It was repaired in 1856, and is now valued, including grounds, etc., at about $2,000. It will com- fortably seat about 225 persons. The present number of members is seventy- two, under the efficient pastorate of Rev. C. E. Davis. The Sunday- school has a membership of ninety, with an average attendance of sixty.
The Methodist Episcopal church, at East Topsham village, was organ- ized by Rev. Isaac McCann, P. E., and Rev. C. A. Hulbert, the latter being the first pastor. The society was reorganized in 1876, with Rev. C. L. Hulbert as pastor. The first house of worship, the present building, a wooden structure, was erected in 1877, at a cost of $1,200, and is now valued, including grounds, at $1,300. It will comfortably seat 150 persons. The present number of members is forty, under the pastoral charge of Rev. H. F. Reynolds. The Sunday-school has a membership of fifty.
T UNBRIDGE lies in the southern part of the county, in latitude 43° 54' and longitude 4° 32', and is bounded north by Chelsea, east by Strafford, south by Royalton, in Windsor county, and west by Randolph. It was granted by Governor Benning Wentworth, of New Hampshire, to Abraham Root, Timothy Bronson, Joshua Warner, Ephraim Thomas, John Jackson, Noah Thomas, Luke Camp, Joel Camp, Hezekiah Camp, Hezekiah Camp, Jr., Hartman Vandozer, Moses Corbit, Martin Root, Samuel Bush, William Roberts, Jesse Weldon, John Weldon, James Weldon, Obadiah Noble, Obadiah Noble, Jr., William Whitney, Samuel Hide, Ezekiel Roberts, Elisha Noble, Theophilus Westover, Elisha Warner, Abiel Camp, Philip Cullender, Joseph Hanmer, George Palmer, Samuel Lane, David Walker, Ebenezer Fletcher, Ebenezer Fletcher, Jr., Stephen
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Holly, Joseph Waterhouse, Cotton Fletcher, Abiel Williams, Asa Norton, William Corpe, Samuel Lee, Roswell Kilbourn, Benjamin Picket, Joseph Picket, Nathaniel Pease, Timothy Seymour, Henry Allyn, Joseph Tucker, James Nichols, Ezra Hiccock, Benjamin Tucker, Walter Briant, Esq., William Buck, William Fitch, Joseph Newmarch, Esq., M. H. T. Went- worth, Esq., Robert Traill, Esq, George Brinley, David Allen, John Deane, Obadiah Moore, James Saxton, David Haden, Daniel Taylor, Jr., and Samuel Catlin.
The township contains 23,040 acres, the bounds given by the charter being as follows :-
" Beginning at the southwesterly corner of Strafford, from thence north 57 degrees west, six miles ; thence north 36 degrees east, six miles ; thence south 59 degrees east, six miles, to the northwesterly corner .of Strafford aforesaid ; thence south 36 degrees west, six miles, by Strafford aforesaid, to the southwesterly corner thereof, being the bound begun at."
The surface of the town is hilly and broken, abounding with fertile farms and rich grazing lands extending from the valleys to the summits of the hills on either side. The town is divided into two nearly equal parts by the First branch of White river, which runs through the territory from north to south, and upon which are located all the manufacturing industries of the town. Across this stream are ten goodly sized bridges, besides numerous smaller ones, all within the town limits, showing the appropriateness of its name, although it received its appellation before any bridges were built. The highest points of land are Bricknell hill and Town ledge, both near the northern boundary, Whitney hill in the northwestern part, and East hill. The center of the town is marked by a single dome-shaped elevation. The main stream, flowing as it does through the middle of the town, forms, with its tributaries, an outline not unlike that of a large tree with spreading branches. Along these smaller streams, and dotting the hillsides, are located the productive lands and pleasant homes of the husbandmen. Winding through the beautiful valley and along the Branch, from South Royalton to Chelsea, lies a most delightful carriage drive of thirteen miles, over which passes daily the time-honored four-horse coach, carrying the mail and pass- engers to and from Tunbridge and Chelsea.
The rocks underlying the town are entirely of the calciferous mica schist formation, with a small bed of granite, syenite and protogine in the north- eastern part. Two mineral springs, which are somewhat noted, also exist in the town. One is a white sulphur spring, the waters of which have been used beneficially by many persons suffering from cutaneous diseases. It is located on "Spring road," one and a half miles from Tunbridge Center, is owned by Mrs. A. M. Gould, and was discovered in 1805. The waters of the other spring are also valued for their medicinal properties.
The first proprietors' meeting of which there is any record was held at the house of John Hutchinson, May 28, 1783; but the minutes of this meeting
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TOWN OF TUNBRIDGE.
show that others were previously held, although no records of them are to be found. Elias Curtis was the first proprietors' clerk. At this meeting it was
" Voted to allow Jesse Meldon, Peter Mason and Hezekiah Hutchinson twenty pounds for service in laying out part of the township of Tunbridge in Anno Domini 1774.
" Voted to allow Hezekiah Hutchinson four pounds, seven shillings for getting the charter ratified, and putting three warnings of said meetings in the papers.
" Voted, provided Elias Curtis will build a good saw-mill within eighteen months, and a good grist-mill within two years and six months, to give him a deed of one hundred acres of land above Mr. Jonathan Walden's lower pitch, with the privilege of the stream forever.
" Voted to lay out this town into hundred-acre lots.
" Voted to chuse a committee to lay out said town. Chose Nathan Mor- gan, Calvin Parkhurst, Capt. Lasell, John Parkhurst, and Elias Curtis to be the committee for the above purpose.
" Voted to raise ten dollars on each original right or share of land for the purpose of laying out the town and other necessary charges. Chose Elias Curtis collector.
"Voted to allow Mr. Barnabus Strong fifty pounds for laying out Tun- bridge, he agrees to deliver the proprietors' clerk a good plan of said Tun- bridge on parchment.
" Voted that two large books in folio are purchased to contain between three and five hundred pages, well bound and on good paper.
" Voted that the Prudential Committee hire labor on roads at four shil- lings and six pence per day."
From the date of the charter of the town, in 1761, until 1782, a period of over twenty years, we can find no complete records, rendering it impossi- ble to give a connected account of the proceedings previous to that year.
It is known that the town was organized March 21, 1786, although no records of such organization can at the present time be found. Alexander Stedman was the first town clerk ; Abel Camp, first constable; Moses Ordway, Elijah Tracy, and James Gray constituted the first board of select- men. Following we give a few interesting selections from the town records :
In a warning for a town meeting, dated December 16, 1793, the sixth article reads as follows : "To see if they will agree to have the smallpox in town by anoculation." At a meeting held July 15, 1793, they "Chose and appointed John Peabody, Cyrus Chapman and Ebenezer Wells, choristers and to lead in singing." June 24, 1793. "Chose Reuben Hatch to wait on the Council on Ordination day," and " Voted to provide at the town's cost for all gentleman of a liberal education at Mr. Elias Curtis' and Hez'k. Hutchin- son's to dine." December 29, 1806, " Voted to admit the smallpox by in- noculation." March 4, 1809, " Voted to raise two cents on the dollar to de- fray the expense of the town, half cash and half grain, cash down and grain in February next." At a meeting held in March, 1811, it was " Voted to give a bounty of seventeen cents for each crow killed by any person in Tun- bridge."
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TOWN OF TUNBRIDGE.
It was customary to "sell the town poor" at public vendue to the lowest bidder, the bids ranging from fifty cents to $1.46 as the price of board per week. Each owner of sheep and cattle was obliged to have an " ear mark," which was placed on file with the town clerk, and by which his stock was designated.
The population of Tunbridge in 1880 was 1,252. In 1886 the town had sixteen school districts and the same number of common schools, employing twenty-seven female teachers, to whom was paid an average weekly salary, including board, of $4.23. There were 278 scholars, seventeen of whom at- tended private schools. The entire income for school purposes was $1,725 .- 39, while the total expenditures were $2,030.64, with Miss V. L. Farnham, superintendent.
TUNBRIDGE, locally known as "The Market," is a post village situated about one mile south from the center of the town in the pretty valley of the First branch of White river, at which place the valley narrows perceptibly, widening again into broad intervals below the village at the south end of its main street, which is shaded by beautiful maple trees. The village contains one church (Congregational), a hotel, woolen-mill, one large general store, a grocery, millinery store, saw and grist-mill, blacksmith shop, harness shop, carriage shop, and about forty dwellings. The beautiful grounds of the Union Agricultural society are also located here.
NORTH TUNBRIDGE (p. o.) lies about two miles north from "The Market" on the Branch, and contains two churches (Baptist and Universalist), one general store, an iron foundry in which are manufactured agricultural imple- ments, a carriage shop, blacksmith shop, grist-mill, saw and planing-mill, car- penter shop, shingle and cider-mill, a fork and hoe-handle manufactory, and about thirty dwellings.
SOUTH TUNBRIDGE (p. o.) is a hamlet located near the southern boundary of the town, on the Branch, and contains one church (Methodist), a saw and shingle-mill and wood turning shop, a carriage shop, and about a dozen dwellings.
Gay Brothers' woolen-mill, at Tunbridge Center, was established by the present proprietors in 1868, and has since been successfully conducted by them. The members of the firm are J. F., J. S., and O. A. Gay. They manufacture satinets, cassimeres, flannels and stocking yarns, giving employ- ment to about twenty- five persons.
Dana B. Giles's saw-mill, located on the Branch, on road 16, was bought by the present owner in 1874. The mill is operated by water-power and saws about 150,000 feet of lumber per year, including custom work.
F. H. Lasell's shingle and cider-mill, at North Tunbridge, has been operated by the present proprietor since 1885. He turns out about 200,000 shingles and from 800 to 1,200 barrels of cider per year, and also does wood- turning.
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TOWN OF TUNBRIDGE.
James D. Corliss's grist mill, in North Tunbridge village, does custom grinding. The proprietor also deals in grain and feed.
A. J. Wills's saw, shingle and wood-turning mill, at South Tunbridge, on the Branch, has been owned and operated by Mr. Wills since November 10, 1864. He cuts about 150,000 feet of lumber and 250,000 shingles per year.
George Brown & Sons' saw and planing mill and rake manufactory, at North Tunbridge, is located on the First branch of White river. The business was formerly conducted by W. W. & G. L. Swan, and by Brown & Flanders, and was purchased by the present proprietors in October, 1885. They deal in lumber and do custom sawing, turning out about 150,000 feet annually. They also manufacture 400 dozen hand-rakes, besides a quantity of fork and hoe-handles, and are about to put in machinery for the manufac- ture of chair stock. The mill is operated by water-power.
Hayward & Kibby's saw and grist-mill, located in Tunbridge Center village, was established in 1864 by Mr. Hayward and Earl Cushman, Mr. Kibby assuming an interest in the business in 1871. They manufacture about 300,000 feet of rough lumber per year, and do a general grist-milling business. The mill is operated by water-power.
R. C. & C. B. Smith's foundry, at North Tunbridge village, was established in 1855 by W. F. Smith. The present proprietors, who are brothers, have conducted the business since the spring of 1866. They manufacture plows and cultivators and do a general foundry business.
Thomas Jenkyn's carriage-making business, located on road 28, two miles northeast from Tunbridge Center, was commenced by the present proprietor in 1878. He makes a specialty of road and speed wagons and sulkies, receiving orders from the adjacent towns and counties, from Boston, Mass., and other eastern cities. He is a thorough mechanic, and is master of every branch of his business, guaranteeing all work from his shop. He turns out from fifteen to twenty new carriages annually.
Ira Mudgett's carriage and repair shop, at South Tunbridge village, was established by the present owner in 1866. November 19, 1880, his shop and dwelling were destroyed by fire; but he has rebuilt and continues the business, doing custom work. He is also engaged in bridge building.
S. A. Dean's carriage and sign painting business, at Tunbridge Center, was established by Mr. Dean in 1866. He builds carriages, sleighs, etc., and does all the work connected with the different branches of his business, besides general repairing.
The Union Agricultural Society of Tunbridge was organized in 1875, and the first fair was held October 13th and 14th of that year. It has been a very successful organization, and holds annual fairs and races, occupying beautiful grounds of twenty-two acres, with all the necessary buildings, and one of the best half-mile tracks in New England. Following are its officers for the present year (1887) : D. W. Cowdray, of South Royalton, president ; John P. Fish, of Washington, Ist vice-president ; N. H. Austin, of Tunbridge,
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2d vice president ; H. R. Hayward, of Tunbridge, treasurer ; E. O. Lyman, of Tunbridge, secretary ; D. C. Jones, of South Royalton, marshal ; J. M. Whitney, E. O. Lyman, and W. W. Swan, all of Tunbridge, executive committee ; Mason K. Griffith, of Tunbridge, general superintendent.
According to the accounts given it is somewhat difficult to decide just who was the first settler ; but it is generally conceded that Moses Ordway made the first permanent settlement near the eastern boundary of the town, about 1776. He was soon followed by James Lyon, Elias Curtis, and the Hutch- inson brothers, one of whom sowed the first wheat grown in the town upon what is now the town poor.farm.
The custom of these early settlers was to first come on alone and prepare for their future homes by clearing small patches of land and "rolling up" rude log huts, then bringing their wives through the unbroken forests (their only guide being " blazed " trees) to share the hopes and toil, the hardships and privations of pioneer life. To these were soon added other families, and what was shortly before a wilderness, inhabited only by wild animals, began, by the patient industry of willing hands, cheered on by hopeful hearts, to assume a new aspect. January 25, 1780, was the most eventful day thus far in the history of the little colony, the event being the birth of James Lyon, Jr., the first child born in Tunbridge. All the settlers gathered to pay homage to the new comer.
We learn from the descendants of Moses Ordway, now residing in Tun- bridge, that Mr. Ordway's estimable wife bore him twenty-two children, eighteen of whom lived to be married. It is said of this family of many children that it was a difficult matter to provide them all with boots or shoes, at times there being but one pair for the whole number of boys, and they were obliged to " take turns," first one and then another wearing them to the forest to procure wood, while others who had none would warm chips by the fireplace, and, laying them on the snow, would stand upon them while they prepared the fuel for use.
The Hutchinson brothers settled near the river, and Elias Curtis just south of the town line. Robert Haven, with a family of nearly grown up children, settled near what is now South Tunbridge, and a family by the name of But- ton located on the opposite side of the river. These families gave consid- erable impetus to the young settlement. They cheerfully submitted to pri- vations and hardships, and worked with a will in anticipation of a happy future. Then, too, the accessions which from time to time were made to the colony were advantageous to all ; for by making " bees " and helping each other the work of clearing and building went on more rapidly, promising well for this hardy little band of pioneers, and when a young man began prepa. rations for "housekeeping," how cheerfully would they all join in aiding him to make a home as comfortable as the times would admit.
The colony now enjoyed peace and prosperity. The barns were for the first time well-filled with the fruits of their summer's toil, and their cellars.
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held ample stores for the coming winter. All were happy, and those who had not moved their families into town were getting ready to bring them to share these hard-earned comforts and dispel the wintry gloom from their lonely firesides.
About day-break on the morning of October 16, 1780, the inhabitants of this quiet little settlement were awakened by the fiendish yells of a large body of Indians sent out from Canada on an errand of murder and pillage under the command of a British lieutenant named Horton, a more extended account of which incursion will be found in the County Chapter of this work. Nearly everything of value was destroyed, barns with their contents were burned, the savages feeding the flames with the furniture from the homes of their helpless victims. All who could, fled, as resistance was useless and meant instant death. Those who endeavored to escape were pursued, and if captured, were treated in the most barbarous manner. A number of per- sons were literally cut in pieces and scalped, and others taken prisoners and hurried to Canada, where they were turned over to the British at $8 per head. No pen can adequately describe the sufferings which this little band was compelled to endure before they finally regained their liberty.
Moses Ordway and family, who lived a short distance away, heard the attack and concealed themselves for several days in the woods, their youngest child being then but three weeks old. The mercy apparently shown to the women and children was probably due to the fact that their scalps brought no bounty from the British. Most of the women and children who were left sought refuge with the friends whom they had left but a short time before. A few bravely faced the winter with hardly anything upon which to subsist. The men who were taken captive eventually returned to their friends and again engaged in tilling the soil and the building up of a township. Many who were thought to be dead again appeared and began anew the work from which they had been so ruthlessly taken.
About this time the Revolutionary war ended and many new families, besides some who had been here before, settled in different parts of the town. From that time onward its growth was more rapid and its prosperity assured.
In 1785 Dea. Elijah Tracy, with his wife and one child, came to Tun- bridge and settled on what is now known as the "Tracy farm." At this time their nearest neighbor to the north was a family living at Montpelier. Upon arriving at their rude hut Mrs. Tracy proceeded to prepare their din- ner while the Deacon arranged a table, using a stump which had been ieft in the cabin, it being inconvenient to remove it. Their furniture consisted of the stump-table with brush for a table cloth, one kettle, a bedstead, and a few pieces of crockery, the kettle serving the double purpose of teapot and meat kettle. In just six weeks after moving into their new home Mrs. Tracy visited Mrs. Morgan, and on returning found her house and its contents in ashes. With the help of sympathizing friends they soon had another home as cozy as the first, and happiness again reigned in their household. Deacon
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